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CHAPTER 21
Cheyenne
“Thank you so much for visiting.” Colleen pulled me into her arms.
“Thank you for having me.” I hugged her back and absorbed all the warmth that she was exuding. I was going to miss her. She was one of the sweetest, most nurturing souls I’d ever met. And I felt close to her, like family. At first, I thought it was because of her friendship with my mom or how much I loved her son, but I was pretty sure everyone who met this woman felt the same way.
“It’s been my pleasure! I’m just bummed it’s over so soon.”
So was I.
I was thrilled that Jimmy and Isabella were getting married and I wouldn’t miss it for the world, but I had really enjoyed spending time with Cash’s mom, and her husband Mitch.
Colleen’s hands were soft against my cheek as she cupped my face again, the way that she had when I first arrived. “Your mama would be so proud of you, sweetie pie.”
“For what?” I responded without thinking and immediately wished I could take it back. I hadn’t meant to sound so surprised at her comment, it was just that I wasn’t exactly lighting the world on fire.
“For growing into such a strong, independent, creative, kind human being.”
Kind and creative I could see, but strong and independent was a stretch. Sure, I’d been financially independent for the past ten months or so, but before that, my grandparents had always footed the bill. That was the deal, as long as I was in school, and living by their rules they would support me.
When I told them that I was moving to Firefly, I got cut off. But even after that happened, my brother let me stay in his house rent-free. I didn’t have to have a car because everything in Firefly was within walking distance. And I had found part-time jobs teaching art classes while I worked on my Ph.D. and it covered most of my essentials, but I ate at the bar for free more nights than I ate at my rent-free home.
I wasn’t exactly independent.
And strong? I was probably the weakest person I knew. I’d been in love with my brother’s best friend for months and I hadn’t had the courage to tell him. How strong was that?
“Ready?” Cash asked as he walked back into the house.
He’d been out back with Mitch who’d needed a hand with a tree that had fallen down in the storm that blew through the night before.
“Yep.” I sniffed, hoping that I could keep my emotions at bay.
I wasn’t going to be the one who was crying as we all said our goodbyes.
“Dumplin’.” Cash’s mom pulled her son into her arms. “You better come back and see us soon.”
“I will. I promise.”
I knew that Cash meant it. He’d mentioned to me this morning that he was going to make sure that he came up to see his mom at least a few times a year.
Colleen hugged her son tightly before releasing him and giving me another hug. “And you too, missy. You better not be a stranger.”
I just smiled, knowing that the chances of me coming back were slim. This was Cash’s family, and it didn’t matter how much I felt like I belonged and wished that I was a part of it, it wasn’t mine.
It took another ten minutes of Colleen thanking us and gushing over the picture of the party I’d drawn her, and the Swatch watch that Cash had given her before we finally made it out to the truck and were on our way.
“Your mom is amazing,” I said as we both waved as we pulled away from the house.
“She is,” he agreed.
I wished that I knew when, or if, I would see her again. “She says she doesn’t really go back to Firefly that often.”
“She hasn’t been back since she moved up here.”
“Really?” I questioned.
That seemed so odd to me. She was so friendly and outgoing; I was sure that she must have a ton of friends there. She had mentioned that Mitch’s back was bad, so maybe he couldn’t travel that far.
